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In 2004, Lindsey Boyd and Gwen Whiting — two former fashion industry professionals who met while studying Textile & Fiber Science at Cornell — changed the way we did laundry with The Laundress. The chore of washing clothes turned into a pleasurable luxury with the use of the brand’s specialty, eco-friendly detergents made for everyday clothes and hard-to-wash fabrics like wool, cashmere, and denim. Scents of clean musk, fresh woods, and, most famously, Le Labo Santal 33 captured attention across the internet and, in 2015, physically at their flagship boutique in New York City. Even John Mayer was known to be a fan, collaborating with the brand on a custom scent. But as die-hard Laundress lovers know, things took a turn for the company.
On November 17, 2022, the brand posted a safety notice on Instagram instructing customers to “immediately” stop using their products. “We have identified the potential presence of elevated levels of bacteria in some of our products that present a safety concern,” the caption read. Panic ensued in laundry rooms across America, despite the brand’s assurance that, at the time, they were “not aware of any adverse health impacts related to this issue.” Just a few weeks later, The Laundress recalled all of its products, from laundry detergents and dish soaps to surface cleaners and stain solutions. In March 2023, an additional recall came. The brand’s fabric conditioner — which was included in the December 2022 recall — had been found to contain ethylene oxide, “a carcinogen that can cause adverse health effects if there is significant and direct long-term exposure.”
Following the recall, the brand took a seven-month hiatus to regroup. During this time, dedicated fans flooded social media with comments of support (and concern), pondering if the brand would make a comeback. And now, The Laundress has returned with a new manufacturer, modified formulas, and pharmaceutical-grade production guidelines.
“Our team worked around the clock to make this relaunch a reality. Over the past six months, we partnered with global experts in R&D, quality assurance, supply chain, manufacturing, engineering, product marketing, and more to make comprehensive changes to our supply chain and manufacturing process that address all issues and improve our safety standards,” Clemens Hermann, the CEO of The Laundress, says, “This includes new testing procedures that exceed US industry standards, giving us extraordinary confidence in the safety of our new products.”
The brand was intentional about which products to include in the initial relaunch, reformulating a core collection that embodies the fabric care expertise that makes The Laundress truly unique. Laundress’s most popular products in the Classic, Cedar, and Lady scents, including the Signature Detergent, fabric conditioner, stain solution, Wool & Cashmere Shampoo, and Delicate Wash, are back. Accessories include a stain brush, a measuring cup, mesh washing bags, and dryer balls.
For a clean start, shop The Laundress’ newly revamped products below and on their website.
The Laundress Signature Detergent in Classic
The Laundress Fabric Conditioner in Classic
The Laundress Stain Solution in Fragrance-Free
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